The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-09-29
THE BLUE AND GRAY.
Great Gathering of Teternns Al Ernnsrille. Inh


The veterans Of the Union and Confederate
armies held grand Reunion at Evansville.
Sept. 90 81, % and %. On the first day about
1850 old soldiers reported at headquarters and
were assigned to camp. These We're Joined By
the following military organizations: Louis
Vile Light Infantry, Rockville Battery Mer-
chants and Rice's Zouaves, of Indianapolis; In
dianapolis Light Artillery Richland Ri fles, Of
Pulaski; Tennessee Linck ZOuaves, and Her
mitage Guards, of Nashville Tenn: CantrelPs
Artillery, of Columbia, Tenn; Co. H. Sth H.,
OF Paris, and the Monarch Rifles, of OWENS
boro, Ky.
The opening exercises at the Reunion grounds
were attended by about 10000 people The
freedom OF the city was given in the cOnven-
tlonal manner, and the address Of welcome de-
livered by Gen. James NJ. Shackelford, whose
weiIehosen and appropriate Grafton was re-
ceived with enthusiasm.
Gen. Green B. Raum of Illinois, and eV-Gov
h. +. NOyes, of Ohio, arrived during the morn
| ing of the Goth and were the guests of the
Press Committee. Gen. John f. Wheeless and
/ Gen. Quarles, of Nashville, and Gen. o. T. Good
| ing, of st. Louis, arrived at noon. Visitors
from every quarter were pouring in all day,
and at evening it was estimated that there
were over 10000 persons in the city At IL
o'clock the address of welcome to the State Of
Indiana was delivered by Gov. Isaac p Gray.
In the afternoon Gov. NOyes delivered an adj
/
| followed by several speakers, among them Geo.
| w. Peck, of Milwaukee. A dress parade fol-
lowed, which was participated in by the visit
| ing companies.
The principal event of the third day was the
| grand parade, which was witnessed by about
/ 10000 people. The procession extended miles,
and was made up of floats representing scenes
from Evansville's history, Grand Army Posts,
knights of Pythias, Catholic Knights, secret
organizations, etc. A magnificent allegoricaI
design of . Peace" was very much admired
1t had for its subject the reunion of the blue
and the gray. This was considered TO have
| been one of the largest and most extensive in
dustrlal parades that ever occurred in the West.
While the parade was moving the bells of the
Holy Trinity Catholic Church were rendering
the Chimes of Normandy" "Star Spangled
Banner" etc. At the camp in the afternoon
Gov. simon b. Buckner, of Kentucky delivered
short address, which was enthusiastically re-
ceived.
On the morning of the last day a COMPETE
tive drill was held, and the following prizes
awarded The first artillery prize to the Rock
vile tInd.) Light Artillery and the second TO
| the Burns Artillery, of Nashville. The first
prize for best Zouave drill, $500, was given to
| the Emerald Cadets, of st. Louis and second,
of $780, to Linck ZOuaves, of Nashville, Tenn.
The Reunion closed with a great sham battle.
! 1t was announced for 2 o'clock. Not less than
10000 people gathered to witness it. A mill
tary company was brought into requisition and
charged upon the people with fixed bayOn5ss IN
drive them back. This had a temporary effect,
but they soon again crowded into the grounds.
The veterans and visiting military were then
| summoned TO press them back, aud it finally
required their combined force and two lannon's,
with double charges of powder fred into the
crowd before they would go back and mako
room for the battle. 1t was after o'clock be-
fore the battle opened. Fifteen hundred men
were engaged, and $4,000 rounds of ammuni-
ton were discharged. The battle was con-
Quoted in true military style, and the attacks
and repulses, running fires and hand to- hand
struggles presented an exciting scene.